Receptacle inverting mechanism



June 7, 1938. JfM, McLATCHlE 2,119,642

RECEPTACLE INVERTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 8, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 l /l I, V

/ AT NEYS A June 7, .1938.

J. M. MCCLATCHIE RECEPTA'CLE INVERTING MECHANISM Filed Aug.y s. 1956 '7 sheets-sheet 2 A ORNEYS June 7, 1938.

J. M. MccLATcHlE 2,119,642 -RECEP '.IACI.|E INVERTING MECHNISM V l .v Filed Aug. a, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 V.lune 7, 1938. L J. M. MccLATcH-IE 2,115,642

RECEPTACLE INVERTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 8, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 7d? INVENTOR June 7, 1938.

J. M. MccLA'lrcHlE RECEPTACLE INVERTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 8, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 A INVENToR J/f/v /V. /Vc 247-6676 %ORNEYS V 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 J. M. MCCLATCHIE RECEPTACLE INVERTING MECHANISM Filed Aug; 8, 1936 June 7, 1938.

INVENTCR J/f/v/Z/Vc (2476/'05 (i f l ORNEYS June 7, 1 938. J. M. MccLATcHlE 2,119,542 I RECEPTCLE INVERTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 8. 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTQR @f/w /Va [2076675 ORNEYS Patented June '"7, 1938 UNITED STATES RECEPTACLE INVERTING MECHANISM John M. McClatchie, Middletown, N. Y., assigner to The Borden'Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application August l8, 1936, Serial No. 94,906

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improvement vin receptacle inverting mechanisms, and more particularly to an improvement in can inverting or dumping mechanisms especially adapted for operation in timed relation with can washing machines of the type ldisclosed in my Patent No. 2,023,431, dated December 10, 1935.

Automatic receptacle inverting mechanisms are extensively used in the industries to perform the act of dumping or pouring out the liquid contents of the receptacles faster and more efliciently than the act can be done by hand. The mechanisms for inverting or dumping the large milk cans used to transport raw milk from the producer to the receiving and distributing st-ations are typical examples of such devices, and al.- though the mechanism ofthe present invention. is applicable to the inverting of various kinds of receptacles in order to automatically pour out their contents, the invention will be described with particular reference to the emptying or dumping of the large cans used in transporting fluid milk.

It has been pro-posed heretofore -to provide automatic can inverting or dumping mechanisms for can washers, and there are many such in successfulvo-peration on the market today, although many of them are objectionable in one or more particulars, forrexamplarsuch as spilling or slopping out some o-f the milk before the can reaches the point at which it is dumped or because some of the milk is spilt onto the outside of a preceding can.

One object of the present invention is to produce a can inverting or dumping mechanism of such construction that no milk will spill or slop over the top of the can before the can is positively inverted or dumped into the milk receiving tank.

A further object of the invention is toproduce a can vinverting mechanism of such construction that the preceding can which has just been emptied will be removed from the sphere of action of .the can being dumped so as to avoid all possibility of milk spilling ontol the exterior of the preceding can. y.

Another object of the invention a can inverting mechanism especially adapted for connection with and operation from actuating means functioning like the can transporting car'- riage of the can washing machine disclosed in my said patent, namely, an upward, forward, downward and backward movement. In the can inverting mechanism of the present invention-the cans to-be emptieditravel without -vfbration down is to produce an inclined runway and come to rest on a receiving platform without spilling any milk whatever. Thereupon an oscillatory cradle picks up the `filled can and swings it in a'vertical plane to turn the can upside do-wn thereby emptying its contents at a higher plane into the milkV receiving tank, at the same time depositing the can in upside do-wn position on a support from which the can is removed and carried into the washing machine before the next succeeding can is dumped. By so arranging the can inverting mechanism that the cradle begins its upward swing on the upward stroke of the can transporting carriage of the washing machine the cradle is started in its upward swing slowly and gently without liability of accidentally spilling the contents of the can. And then as the carriage reaches the limit of its upward movement and starts forward the cradle carrying thev lled can is accelerated in movement and the contentsr 20 thereof are swiftly and neatly dumped into the receiving tank. without slopping over the sides of the tank. The inverting mechanism is returned to normal position largely under the -actio-n o-f gravity, but in order that there may be no delay in bringing Athe cradle back to normal position resilient means put kunder tension from the can transporting carri-age is availed of to start the cradle in its downward path.

Another object of the invention is to produce acan invertingmechanism of such compact construction as to take upV relatively little oor space, an important desideratum in connection with many can washing machines now in operation in restricted quarters which do not permitl of the installation and operation of former kinds of can inverting mechanisms requiring relatively `large floor space. In this connection the can inverting cradle is `ofsuch construction that when it returns tocan receiving position it does not interfere with the passage of the next succeeding filled canonto vthe receiving platform. For this purpose the can inverting .cradle comprises two pivoted `parts which are swung outwardly as the cradle descendsgbeingstarted in their outward swing by vcontact with the upper .rounded part of the ,can and then when the can sup,- porting `plates of thecradle pass by the bottom end of the can swing inwardly into position ready to Vbe brought upwardly under the forward edge Y50 of the bottom of the canon the platform.

Other objects and particular features of the invention vwill be pointed out as the descriptionr proceeds. To these ends the invention consists in the improved receptacle inverting mechanism December 10, 1935. Only the can receiving end of the canpwashingjmachine is shown in the described as especially ladapted for inverting or Y dumping large milk cans and is shown Yin con nection with acan washingmachine of the char- In the :accompanying drawings illustrating the Y preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1V is a side elevation of the receiving end of a can washing machine, with the'improved can inverting mechanism shown in cooperative relation therewith;

Fig. 2 is atview similar to Fig. l, but showing the oscillatory -caninverting cradle in can inverting position; Fig'. 3 is Van enlarged longitudinal-vertical section of the middle portion of the parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 4`4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is atop plan, partly in section, of the can runway, the section being taken on a line above the canV receiving platform; Fig. 6' is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 6 8 of Fig. 5; Fig. '7 isa top plan of the can receiving platform and of the adjacent parts of the oscillatory can inverting cradle; Fig; 8 is a detail of the ,stop for preventing the cans from toppling over during the act of .inverting them;` Fig. 9 is a plan'of the parts 'shown in Fig.A 8, to indicate theirv relation to an .inverted can; Fig. 10 is a perspective view Y of the can inverting cradle separate from it's'supporting means; and Fig. l1 isa perspectiveview Y of the parts shown in the lower part of Fig. 4.

r`The improved receptacle inverting mechanism oi, the-'present invention is adapted for connectionwith and operation from any type of machine provided with an element which has an upward, forward, downward and backward movement for the purpose of inverting receptacles in timed relation'with the operation ofthe machine. For the sake of convenience of description, however, the

improved receptacleinverting mechanism will be acter described in my Patent No. 2,023,431, dated drawings and only enough of theroperating parts Y thereof are described as is necessary to an understanding ofthe connection between the machine and the elements of the present invention.

As described and illustrated in said patent-the!" can washing machine includes a stationary frame comprising the uprights II] and longitudinal bars I I, a can transporting carriageY lI2 to which is imparted an upward, forward, downward and backward Ymovement by means-of a rectangular gear construction, generally indicated at I3, for

the purpose of successively depositing the cansV rinsing nozzle I8, are'V indicated in the drawings.V The can inverting mechanism comprises a` cradle or frame generally indicated at I9, oscil` latory in a vertical plane for removing a can 2U resting in substantially upright position on a receiving platform 2 I, turning it into upside down position, as indicated at 22 in Figs. 2- and 4,'and` depositing it on longitudinally'extending rails 24,

which constitute` af rearward extension of .the

rails I6 and are located over the milk receiving tank 25, provided-with anfopening 26 whichleads to themilkweighing devices.y Although the can resting on the platform `2| is described as in sub- The oscillatory can inverting cradle or frame I 9 comprises two longitudinally-extending frame members 28 and 29 in` the form of angle irons, each of which is secured at its upper end lto a hub member 39 fastened to the inner end of a rock shaftk 3|. the upper bosses 32 (Figs. 3 and 4) of the brackets V33 secured to the rear sides'of the uprights 35Y forming partV of the stationary frame of the can inverting mechanism.l W'hen the can inverting cradle is in position ready to pick up a can from the platform 2l (which may be termed the lower The Vrock shafts 3! areY journalled or can-receivingV position of the cradle) the'angle irons 28 and 29 are in substantially parallel relation with the longitudinal `axis of the can 20 resting on the platform, asshown in Fig. 3, with the can supporting or lifting plates 3l located under the forward edge of the bottom of the can. As shown, the upper end of the cantilts slightly toward the cank washing machine.

The .can lifting or supporting plates 31 project rearwardlyat right angles from the lower ends of the strips 39 and 40 which are respectively associated with the angle irons 28 and 29 and arranged parallelly therewith. As the carriage is swung upwardly from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the front side of the can is adapted to rest against the4 strips 39 and 49, the upper ends of which are curved, as indicated at 4 I, to engage with the` curved upper part 38 of the can.

The strips 39 and 40 are pivotally mounted so Yas to swing inwardly toward each other; just before they move into can-receiving position and to swing outwardly from each other as they descend after inverting a can.V Forv this rpurpose each strip 39 and 40 is provided with an out-` wardly-extending upper lug 42 and an outwardly-1 extending lower vlugr 43. Each upper lugY 42V is lbent forwardly at 44 and terminates in a boss 45 which embraces the upper end of a stud or rod 4.6V

arranged parallelly with the angle irons 28 and 2,9 and 'supported therefrom by the'upper brackets 4l and lower brackets 48. VThe lower lugs 43VV of the strips '3 9 and 40 are bent backwardly and terminate 'in the bosses 49..which embrace the.

rods 46.l rlhe rods 46 are heldin positionby meansof the pins 50 passing transversely through their ends which project beyond the brackets 41 The can inverting Acradle I9 is swung in the direction to remove the can from theplatform 2l and turn it into upsidedown position by means kactuated by the transporting carriage Vand for this'purpose a cable 52 is connected at its forward end to a bracket 53 extending downwardly from the lower rear corner of the rectangular gear I3.

versely-arranged shaft'55rjournalled in the lower bosses 56 of the brackets 33. On the outer ends of the shaft 55 are mounted gears 5l which mesh The other end of the cable 52 is secured v to the lrim of Ya pulley 54 mounted on a trans-` withY and drive the gears 58 mounted on the outer ends of the rock shafts 3|. The cable 52 passes under the idler pulley 59 mounted onone of. the

uprights 6B of the frame of the can inverting mechanism.

Assuming the upward stroke of the can trans` porting carriage to be the rst step in its cycle of movements, itwill be understood, viewing Fig.`V 1, that as the'gear I3 rises av tension. is put on the cable 52 which as the gearl I 3 continues to rise causes the gears 51 to turn in a clockwise direction and so turn the gears 58Vin a counter-clockwise direction, with the yresult that the can in-` verting cradle moves into contact with the can dname on Athe platform 2|- and gently lifts it therefrom without vappreciable vibration and consequently with no spilling or slopping over ofthe contents ofthe ca-n. lAs the gear I3 approaches the limit of its upward movement and then 'starts'forward the speed of rotation of the gears 51 is accelerated and the cradle is swung Vswiftly jbut still without vibration to its uppermost position, so that bythe time the gearV I3 reaches the limit of its forward movement the cradle has been swung into the position shown in Fig. 2, with the can emptied and deposited upon the auxiliary rails 24. The -rear end of the tank 25 extends rearwardly a considerable distance beyond the position ofthe first can 22 resting in upside down position on the auxiliary rails 24, as best indicated in Fig. 3, so that when the cradle approaches a horizontal position andthe milk or other liquid begins vto pour out of the Vmouth of the can it will'be received in the tank 25 without waste.

The rearwardly curved upper ends 4| of the strips 39 andl prevent the can 20 from slipping off the can inverting cradle until the latter is in almost its upright `or can depositing position. As the cradle approaches its vupright or vertical position, the can slips over the curved ends 4| of the strips 39 and 40 and the forward edge of the mouth of 'the can Afirst strikes the upper surface of the auxiliary rails 24. To prevent the forward edge of the mouth ofthe can from sliding along the upper surface of the rails 24. I provide the stop 5| (shown in Figs. 3 and 4), against 'the rear 'vertical edge of which the forward inner edge of the mouth of the can strikes as the can is deposited in inverted position on the rails 24, thereby holding the inverted can in the position shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 until it is lifted from the rails 24 by the next upward movement of the can transporting carriage.

When vthe can inverting cradle has deposited the can in upside down or inverted position on the -rails 24, vit is returned to can receiving position under the action of gravity, after having received a starting impetus from a spring 64. Before the cradle starts downwardly, another 'can has been moved onto the platform 2|, so that as the cradle approaches a horizontal position the inneredges of the plates 31 strike the sides of the rounded top 38 of the can on the platform and are swung outwardly, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. ing outwardly too far'stops 5| are mounted on the outer `sides of the Vbrackets 48 in position to be engaged by the plates 31. As the plates 31 pass below the lower forward edge of the can, they swing toward each other, but to assure their assuming normal can lifting position the outer sides of the forward extensions of the lower lugs d3 pass between and strike the stops 62' rising from the longitudinal bars 63 of the frame` of the can inverting mechanism. The bars l|53 constitute a rearward extensionof the lower longitudinal bars `H of the can washing machine.

Asstated above, the can inverting cradle is started on its udownward swing by means of the contraction spring 84 fastened at its forward end to Athe bracket B5 and at its rearendto the free end of an arm t6 pivoted on one of the uprights 35. The spring 54 is put-under tension Vby means of a pinv 61 projecting outwardly from the Vfree end of an arm SS xed'on the shaft 55. As the gear |3 nears the end of its forward movementthe pin 61 strikes the arm G and swings it tothe '-right,

so that when the-gearl 3 -move'sdownwardly `and Y Sil for the cans at To prevent the plates 31"from swingthen beginsits rearward movement, thereby lpermitting the shaft 55-to turn in -the opposite fdirection, Vthe spring 64 actingV through -the arms 66V and 61 turns the shaft 55 and gears 51 in counter-clockwise direction, and soV the gears 58 in clockwise direction, thereby starting the can inverting cradle on its downward swing, which is completed under the action of gravity. To prevent the spring 64 from contracting too much and thereby swinging the arm 66 toojfar to the left, ya stop 89 fixed to one of the uprights 35 limits the leftward swing of the arm 56, as shown in Fig. 1. When the shaft 55 is turned in counter-clockwise direction the pulley 54 winds up the cable 52.

While the can inverting cradle is removing a can from the Vplatform r2| and Vbeginning to swing it upwardly to turn it upside down, the next Ysucceedingfcran in the row rof cans being fed into the machine yis not permitted to move onto the platform until the can being removed therefrom is'out of the path of travel of vthe oncoming can. For this purpose the passage of the `cans to tne platform is controlled by an escapement arrangement effected by making the can runway section 1| on which the platform 2| is located tiltable and providinga pivoted detent member 12 controlled by the movements of the section 1|.v The detent member 12 is located in the `receiving end of the can runway proper, indicated at 13, which comprises the usual transversely arranged rolls 'i4 fulcrumed at their ends vin the side plates 15. The can runway 13 slopes toward the can washing machine to permit the cans to pass onto the platform 2| by gravity when .the tiltable section 1| is in the position shown' in Fig. 2. To prevent accidental lateral displacement of the cans the usual guide rails 16 are provided.v

The tiltable section 1| of the can runway comprises `two longitudinally extending bars 18, on which the platform 21 Vis mounted by means of the angle irons 19. The platform 2|, as shown' in Fig. 5, is T-shaped in 'plan with the cross piece 11 at the rear end and an arc-shaped abutment its forward end. The platform 2| is made narrow at its forward end in order that the plates 31/of the cradle may swing past it and take their can lifting position under the forward edge of the bottom of the can resting on the platform, as indicated in Fig. '7.

The tiltable Vsection 1| rof the can runway is pivotally mounted at its rear end at '82: Supported on the upper sides of the rear ends of the longitudinally-extending angle -bars 18 are two laterally-extending plates 83 which support longitudinally-extending angle irons the upright parts 8d of which support the outer ends of the rolls 14 of the runway section 1|. Projecting laterally outwardly from each upright p1atef84 is a trunnion 82 journalled in the forward end of a longitudinally-extending angle iron 85 supported by the uprights 8B.

When a can is in position on the platform 2|, the next succeeding can in the line of cans is prevented from passing onto vthe section 1| of the can runway by tilting section 1| to raise the rear `end thereof, whereby the last roll 81 iny the section 1| serves as a stop against which'the forward edge of the lbottom of the nextV succeeding can 88 abuts and is thereby prevented from further forward travel until the roll 81 is again depressed into the planeof the rolls of the runway section 13. The means for raising andlowering the rear end ofthe section 1|,-thatis,:tilting itr onits pivot point y|32, comprises a longitudinallyextending arm 89 fixed at its forward end on the upper surface of the middle portion ofv a transversely-arranged rock shaftY 90l journalled at its outer ends in brackets 9| supported onV the angle bars |53. The rear end of the arm 89 is provided with means for regulating the height of the rear end of the tiltable can runway section 1|, espe cially .whenV the latter is in the position shownin Fig, 2v permitting `a can to pass onto the rolls of runway section 1|. This a-djustment means comprises lan arm 93 pivoted at its rear end on a pin 94 mounted in a bifurcated boss 95 xed on the upperY surface of the rear end of the arm 89. At its forward end the arm 93 is provided with an'` adjustment screw 9.0 which takes against the upper surface of the rear partrof the arm 89. The forward ends of the anglel bars 18 are provided on their upper surface with a cross rod 91 which bears downwardly against the uppersurfaceV of the adjustment arm 93, since the Vforwardends of the angle bars 18 are not otherwise supported. By turning the adjustment screw 96 inY arclockwise direction the rear end of the runway section 1| is lowered and conversely,'by turning the screw 96 in a counter-clockwise direction theV rear end ofthe section 1| is slightly raised.

' The rear end of the Varm 89 is positively raised from the shaft 55 to raise the forward end of the can runway section 1| and thereby depress the rear end thereof to release the can held by the roll 81 by Vmeans of the following parts: Each outer end ofV the shaft 55 is provided with an arm 99V with which is connected the upper end of a link |00. The lower ends of the links are vertically slotted Vat||| for a loose connection with theouter reduced ends I 0| of the outer sections |02 of a transversely-arranged rod, the middle section |03 of which isk supported at va lowervrvplane-than the sections |02bymeans of the verticallyarranged blocks |04 depending from the inner ends Vofthefsections |02.l The under surface ofthe middle partof the Vrod section |03 is weldedto the upper surface of the arm`89. ByY reference -to Figs'. 1 andV 3, showing 45the cradle about to rise, it will be seen that the lowerportions of the slots |05 inthe lower ends Vofthe'links |00 are a considerable distance below the reduced outer ends |0| of the rod sections |02, so that when Vthe shaft 55 is turned in a clockwisedirection by reason of.. the upward .Y Y and forward travel of Ythe l,rectangular gearV I3 lof the can transport, the arms 99 will swing upwardly a portion of their path of travell while the can inverting cradle is swinging the can upwardly,before Ythe links 00 begin; lto lift the forward end of the bars 18 to ydepress the rear- Y end ofthefcan runway section :1| to permit the next succeeding can 88 to move onto the section '1|. By means fof thisparrangement it is assured that the cradleremoves the can from the plat form and swings it to suiiicient height before the next succeeding can can collide with it. .When

on the downward movement of the gear 3 the shaft 55 `turns ina counter-clockwise direction andthe .cradle swings downwardly, the downward ltravel ofthe link 00 permits the weight ofthe rear endA of the'arm 89`and vthe forward end ofthe can vrunwayfsection 1| to move these Vparts into' the position shown infFigs, land l3, in

which position they areheldby means of the engagement ofthe inner ends of vthe rod sections |02-with the upper edges of the upright portions Vof the yangle'bars 63;..fz

. VYOnly `one can at a time 'ispermitted to pass' -fromthe main or entrance part Aof the can! run-V whichis looselyy connected with a be actuatedyother than by way onto the tiltable section 1|. VYWhenthe rear end of the section 1| is depressed to permit the next succeeding can 88 to slide onto the rolls ofthe section 1| and thence ontofthe` plat-` form 2|,.the second succeeding can |01 is prevented from moving forwarduntilv therear end of the can runway sectionV 1| is next raised.

This action is effected` by means of two pins |08 rising from a vertical plate. |09 and spaced to be engaged lbyV the lower part of -the forward sides ofthe can, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The pins |08 are raised above and lowered below the plane of the upper surfaces. of the rolls of the canV runway section 13 by means of a lever arm ||0 fixed on a transversely arranged'rod'- -||2 J'ournalled at its outer endsin the bosses ||3 Y depending from the under surfaces of the horizontal sections ||4 ofthe roll supports 15. The

plate '|09 from the arm |'|0. The forward end of the arm "||0 is slotted at ||1 to receive loosely a pin'||8 (Figs. 3 and 5) transversely arranged'in the rear ends of struction is such that when the rear end of can braces ||5 arranged in the form of a. V assist Y in supporting the lver-tical v2x0.V

the angle bars 18. The above described conrunway section`1| is depressed to permit can 88 to pass onto the platform 2|, itdepresses the .Y forward end of the arm I |0, therebyraising theY As the can inverting cradle'reaches the limit of -its upward swing and deposits the can in Vvupside downrposition on the rails 24,`thecan passes between the longitudinally-extending guides |20 supported from the upper ends of the uprights of the frame of the can inverting mechanism.` These guides prevent lateral displacement of the can. VIn order to prevent the upper part of the can from toppling forward positedV on the rai1s24,

pivoted at |22 on the standard |23 mountedr on a plate |24 supported yon the upper ends ofY the right hand uprights V35 (viewing Fig. ..4)` is provided.- The arm |2|vof rthe stop lever is shown in normal or inoperative position infull lines in Fig. 4. yAt this time thecradle is in position to engage with and lift a can from the platform 2|. In these positionsof thestoplever and ofthe cradle the rod sections |02 are at the limit of their downward movement. Since theV rod sections |02 Vdo not start upwardly at the Vbeginning of the upward swing of the cradle but only after` Y'the cradle has passed. through Va considerable portion of its arc of travel, the finger |2| of thev f stop lever, which is actuated from therighthand rod section |02, will only be brought downVV into operative position, .indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4,fjust before the can is turned into in-l Vverted position on the rail 24.

|25 of the stop lever is pivotally connected at |26 when it has beende-f the arm |2| of alstop lever The secondV Varm with the upper end of a link |21 the lower end of p tion |28 of the right hand rod section |02.

' Thev arm |2| of the stop lever must of course be raised out of the'path of the forward travel of the kcan as the can carriage begins its Vforward movement. V`Consequently, the stop lever must the rod section |02 which is controlled in its movements by the rotations of the shaft 55 which is actuated by and under the control of the four cycles of travel of the can carriage. The means adopted for placing the arm I2I of the stop lever in operative position in front of the can-which has just been deposited on the rails 24 and then removing it from the path of forward travel of the can con- Y sists in slotting the lower endrof the link |21 at |30 in which travels the reduced portion |28 of the rod section |62, and providing a contraction spring j|3| iixed'at its/lower end to a bar |32 (Fig. 8) extending between two Vof the uprights 35 and fixed at its upper end to a pin |33 extending forwardly from the part |25 of the stop'lever which acts to hold the stop lever in the position shown in full llines in Fig. 4:, with the arm |25 of the lever against the stop pin |34, until the rod sections |32 reach almost the limit of theirupward movement, as indicated by the'dotted lines |35 in Fig. 4. The reduced portion |28 of the rod section |132 then positively engages with the upper end |31 of the slot |30 and positively swings the stop lever so that the end of the arm |2| is placed in front of theupper part of one side of the can as it is deposited on theV rails 24. As the rod sections |82 descend, which is during the downward and rearward travel of the can carriage, the spring i3! acts to turn the stop lever, holding the upper end |31 of the slot |3|l.against the top of the reduced'portion |28 of the rod section |62 so that when the rod |02 has descended only a relatively short distance the stop lever has been swung free of the can and is out of its way before the can starts forward on the next forward stroke of the carriage.

With this construction and timing of operation, if the upper part of the can being deposited in upside down position on the rails 24 should tilt forward, the upper end of the right side of the can (viewing Fig. 4) wouldstrike the finger |2| and the can would be deflected by it against the opposite guide rail |20, and thereby be prevented from falling forward, it being understood that the mouth of theV can is 'prevented from sliding forward on Ythe rails 24 by means of the stop 5|. The can would thereafter settle by gravity in upside down position on thc rails 24. In this connection it will be observed by reference to Fig. 2

that when the can is being deposited in upside down position on the auxiliary rails 24 the last can |38 in the row of cans supported on` the rail |46 of the can transportingcarriage is up above and forward of the can which has just been deposited on the rails 24, whereasin Figs. 1 and 4 the can inverting cradle has been swung downwardly into can receiving position and the guide rail Hi! of the canV transporting carriage' has been moved backward into guiding relation with the can 22 which has just been deposited on the rails 24 and is in position to be lifted therefrom by the rail |4 of the transporting carriage` Consequently, all the cans now'being in alinementl the rail guide i4! of the carriage |2 is apparently, in Fig. 4, in cooperative relation with the finger 12| of the stop lever,`wher`eas in reality when the transporting carriage is in this position the arm 2i is 'raised as indicated in Fig. v1.

The fact that the can which has just beenemptied and left inv upside down position over the section 25 of the milk receiving tank is lifted therefrom and then moved forward on the next upward and forward movements of the can carriag'e makes it impossible for the milk being poured out of the next succeeding canto spillonto the outer surfaces of the preceding can land next preceding stations. As a result of this action the can which has been dumped 'and moved forward one step is positioned over a drip tank |43 provided with an opening |44 whichleadstowaste. This pause of the can over thedrip tank |43 affords the drippings in the can, that is, that portion of the milk which adheres tothe inner surfaces of the can to drain off, thereby facilitating the cleansing of the inner surfaces of the can by the washing means of the machine.

In order to eliminate as far as possible any retarding friction bythe upper surface of the rear end of the platform 2| as the can is passing down the rolls of the forwardly inclined tiltable section 1| of the can runway, the upper surface of the platform. 2| is on a slightly lower plane than the upper surfaces of the rolls so that the can is about half its diameter over the rear end of the platform before its lower forward edge tilts downwardly and strikes the platform.V The can then slides smoothly down the platform until its lower front edge comes in contact with-the abutment 80, which it strikes gently without imparting sufficient vibration to the can to spill out any of its contents, due to the slight inclination of the section 1|. The position of the can at this stage is indicated in Fig. 2. To bring the can on the platform within range ofV the cradle withoutV spilling. any milk, the forward endrof the platform is depressed, whereby Vthe can is brought into the position shown in Fig. l, that is, into position to be engaged by the cradle on its nextl downward movement to swing outwardly the can lifting plates 31 'so that they may assume their can lifting position under the forward edge of the bottom of the can.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is:-

l. The combination with a machine ofthe mounted to swing laterally toward and away from Y each other, means connected with the carriage and operative upon the upward and forward movements of the carriage to swing the cradle upwardly to turn the receptacle into inverted position, resilient means put'under tension from the carriage for starting the cradle into downward swing, said plates being adapted to strike the next receptacle on the platform and be swungv outwardly thereby until they passbelow the bottom of the receptacle, means against which the plates strike to be swung toward each other iin--` der the forward edge of thereceptacle, a runway sloping toward the cradle, said runway having a section pivoted at its rear end, anarmvpivoted at its'forward end'and'liaving a part'at'its'rear end Yis raised.

adapted'to engage'with the forward` end of the pivoted runway sectionAv for 'raising and lowering Ytherearrend of the runway section, said arm being connected with the means for swinging the cradle arrangedto depress the rear end of the runway sectionon the upward swing of the cradle Vand to raise 'the rear end of therunway section on the downward swing of the cradle, and stop means .articulated with the rear end of the runway section arranged to be interposed in the path of the vnext succeeding .receptacle whenv theV rear. end ,ofthe lrunway section is. depressed and to be moved out of the 'path of the next succeeding receptacle when the rear endv of the runway section sloping vtoward thek cradle down'which the recep- Clif tacles travel by gravity onto the platform, said runway including aV movable part Ypivoted at its rear end,` means controlled` from the' means for actuatingthe cradle for raising thev rear end of thezmovable runway section to yi'nterpose it in the path of an oncoming receptacle when another receptacle is on Vthe platform and forV depressing the rear end of the'runw'aysection to permit the Yrunway section while it is depressed.' n Y 3. A receptacle-inverting mechanism adapted for connection with and operation from aV ma- Vving receptacle from' passing onto the m receptacle to pass onto the Iplatform'when theV preceding receptacle 'thereon has been removed therefrom,rand means controlled Vby the movable runway section for v.preventing the next succeedchine including a carriage having an upward-forward, downward andbackward movement, said receptacle-inverting mechanism comprising a platform tilted toward the machine, a support on a higher plane thanthe platform and forward thereof, a cradle pivoted above and forward of the platform for removing a receptacley therefromr and Ydepositing it in inverted position onv the'support, a runway including rolls and slopingV toward the cradle so that the receptacles travel by gravity onto the platform, said runway including a movable section pivoted at its rear end,

, means controlled by the means for actuating the cradle forraising the rear end of the movable runway section to prevent a receptacle'froni pass- Y ingl onto theV platform, and stop means Ycontrolled by the movable runway section andoperated in timed relationtherewith so that asthe rear end of the movable runway section is depressed to permit the receptacle held thereby to pass onto 'the platform the stop means is interposed in the path of the next succeeding receptacleV and when the rear end'of the movableY runway section is raised the stop means'are removed from Vin front of the heldreceptacle to permit Vit to travel as far as the'raised rear end of theA movable runway section' 1 'A "74. In a'machine of the character described, the combination with Ya can transporting carriage havingan upward, forwarddownward and back-x ovable '2,11 delle were nivefejnt, of @feas lmening: mechanism comprising, a r can runway sloping toward the carriage down which the cans travel by gravity in t. substantially kupright position, said can runway having a tiltable-section so that the rear end thereof may be raised to prevent a can frombeing e received thereon anddepressed to permit a can to pass` thereon, a Vcan receiving platform onthe tiltable sectionyan escapement detentloperated l,

from the tiltable section and having means spaced from the rear end -of the jtiltable section to prevent' a'can from movement runtil the tiltable'se'ction is in position to Vreceive the nextfs'ucceeding can, an oscillatory cradle for removing a canNfrom the platform and swinging it upwardly to turnfitV upside down, means connected with the, carriage for swinging the cradle upwardlyandresilient means put under tensiony by the carriage for returning the cradle to normal position, Vsaidtiltable section ofthe can runway and the-detentbeing operated 'by theH cradleA swinging meansin timed relation with the oscillations thereof.

5. Ina machine of the character described, the combination "withf'a can transporting carriage having an upward, forward, downward and backward movement, of Va can inverting mechanism comprising, a can receiving platform tilted toward the can transporting carriage, a n oscillatory cradle pivoted above and to the front sideof the Y Y Y platform, and having, two laterally rotatable can supportin'g'plates adaptedto be moved'under the forward bottom edge of the can on thev platform,

vmeans actuated from'the carriage on its upward" t Y and forward movements for'rotating the cradle tov remove the can from theplatform and swing it upwardly into upside down position, and means for 'returning the cradlek into initial position, saidV can supporting plates on the downward movev' ment'of the cradle being arranged to strike and* v` be rotated outwardlyby the sides of the next succeedingcan on the platform.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combinationY with a can transporting carriage having an upward, forward,'downward andbackward'mvement, .ofi a can `inverting mechanism .l

comprising, a can` runway tilted toward thecan transporting carriageso that theV cans travel'by gravity toward it, a can receiving platform, an" oscillatory cradle arrangedrto remove a can from' the platform and swing it upwardly into upside ,7.

down'positiommeans connected with the carriage for' swinging the cradle into can inverting position, means for returning the cradle to initial positionjand meansactuated from the carriage the passage of cans onto the f for controlling platform.

. 7.( In avm'achine'of the character described, the

combination with a cantransporting carriageVV having an upward, forward,`downward and back- Y ward movement, of a can inverting mechanismY comprising, a can receiving platform'tilted toward the can transporting carriage, an osciliatory cfadle'piveted above and to .the vfrom of t the platformjsaid oscillatory cradle including two laterally rotatable can supporting platesfadapted to havean'initial position below thebottomfof the front edge of theV can onthe platform, means connected with the carriage wherebyy the latterY on its upward and forward movements swings the cradle into `upright position to remove the can N from the'platrform and turn it into upside down" position, means for returning the cradle to initial.

position, said can supporting plates on the-down- Ward`movement of .the cradle being adapted to strike the sidesV of the next'can on the platform and be separated thereby, and means interposed in the path of the plates as the cradle swings to initial position to bring the plates toward each other.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a can transporting carriage having an upward, forward, downward and backward movement, of a can inverting mechanism comprising, a can runway tilted toward the carriage down which the cans travel by gravity in substantially upright position, a receiving plat# form at the forward end of the can runway, an oscillatory cradle for removing the can from the platform and swinging it upwardly to turn it into upside down position, means connected with the carriage for swinging the cradle upwardly, re- 'silient means for returning the cradle to initial position, said resilient means being placed under tension from the means for Swinging the cradle upwardly, said can receiving platform being mounted on a tiltable section of the can runway, means operated from the cradle actuating means for tilting the platform to raise and lower the rear end thereof to permit only one can at a time to reach the platform.

9. 'Ihe combination with a machine of the character described including a carriage having an upward, forward, downward and backward movement, of a receptacle inverting mechanism comprising a platform tilted slightly toward the machine, a support located above and forward of the platform, a cradle mounted to swing in a vertical plane for removing an upright receptacle from the platform and depositing it in inverted position on the support, means connected with the carriage for swinging the cradle upwardly, means controlled by the carriage for initiating the downward swing of the cradle, said cradle being so mounted as to complete its downward swing by gravity, guide rails for preventing lateral displacement of the receptacle on the support, and stop means controlled by the carriage arranged to be positioned in front of the receptacle being deposited on the support adapted to cooperate with one of the guide rails to prevent the receptacle being deposited on the support from toppling forward.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a can transporting carriage and means for actuating the carriage, of a can inverting mechanism, a can receiving platform, an oscillatory cradle pivoted above the platform and toward the carriage, and having two laterally rotatable can supporting plates adapted to 'be moved under the can on the platform, means connected with the carriage actuating means for actuating the cradle so as to swing it to turn the can into upside down position, means for receiving the inverted can, and means for returning the cradle into initial position, said can Supporting plates on the downward movement of the cradle being arranged to strike and be rotated outwardly by the sides of the next succeeding can on the platform.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a can transporting carriage and means for actuating the carriage, of a can inverting mechanism comprising, a movable can receiving platform tilted toward the can transporting carriage, a tilted can runway in alinement with the can receiving platform when the latter is in normal position so that cans pass by gravity from the runway onto the platform, means connected with the carriage for tilting the platform toward the carriage into position for the removal of the cans therefrom, an oscillatory cradle arranged to lift a can from the platform and swing it upwardly into upside down position, means connected with the carriage for swinging the cradle into can inverting position, means for returning the cradle to initial position, and' means actuated from the carriage for controlling the passage of cans onto the platform.

JOHN M. MCCLATCHIE. 

